Living the Life of an Artist are thoughts and life happenings that surround me as continual questions, self-doubt, and distractions (okay and perhaps down right laziness) get in the way of being creative.
I want to explore this aspect of being creative. What happens when life gets in the way? How do we move past the self doubt?

Thursday, January 22, 2009

I'm working hard at getting myself organized. So many times I feel I cannot get anything new accomplished because I've not finished off past work. Three years of living in this house and I still don't have my studio set up completely. But I'm getting there!

I suppose it could be said that it's because I don't stick to one thing. Gosh, how can I when there's so many interesting things to do? I have all kinds of ideas for projects from photography, painting, charcoal drawing, and creating multi-media pieces from things that I find. And that's not including my writing!

I try to be different. I don't want to do what everyone else is doing. However, I'm at the point now where I need to be getting something back for what I've spent in supplies, but I'm really struggling with promoting myself. I love to do the work and I don't mind showing it off, but to sell it is another story and not a strong point.

I suppose you could say that I self-sabotage myself. I don't always FINISH a project. When it comes to mounting, matting, and framing, I fall apart. I've bought the tools, but can't cut a straight line to save my life! I tried to buy cheap frames--- and found you get what you pay for.

But this year I am determined! I have given up trying to do the framing myself. I don't have to do everything. I am currently waiting for a shipment of framing materials so that I can finally call my charcoal drawings finished. I am working on a new website so that I can sell some of my works and I am making notecards using the photos I have taken.

I am making progress and I am pleased. However, I have come against another issue and that is my writing and computer space is on the second floor where I have a nice view of field and mountains, but my studio is in the basement. The writing isn't much affected, but the photography can be because if I print something up here, by the time I get it to the studio to frame it, I've lost the vision of my plan.

Another issue with this set up is that I also do my healing work in this room which, even though there is a room screen, this space can look pretty messy and both areas are a bit cramped. I don't want to move the work space downstairs, though, because I love watching night turn to day. The pre-dawn is my favorite time.

What this comes down to is that I will continue to work in this fashion for the time being. I am constantly making improvements and I celebrate every small step. I am making progress. And as long as I am doing so, I have nothing to complain about. Yea yah.